Illuminating-gas and water-gas apparatus



Aug. 6, 1929. H. KOPPERS 1,723,279

ILLUMINATING GAS AND WATER GAS APPARATUS Filed July 6. 1921 Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH KOPPERS, OE ESSENJVUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS DE- VELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATING-GAS AND WATER-GAS APPARATUS.

Application filed July 6, 1921, Serial No. 482,807, and in Germany May 13, 1919.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. I, 1313.)

The invention relates to an illuminating and water gas plant wherein the fuel column of the water gas generator is materially enlarged vertically, said plant having improved means for the production of steam, .for the conservation of heat and for the operation of the hot blasting, with the objects of increased economy and efficiency in gas production.

Inasmuch as'by the adoption of the incandescent mantle the illuminating power which previously was always demanded of gas has lost its importance, dilution of illuminating gas (coke oven gas) by water gas has been adopted to an ever increasing extent and the water gas, of course, no longer needs to be carbureted with heavy hydrocarbons. The consequences of the war will have the effect of encouraging the manufacture of a gas of superior heating value, of about 400 to 510 B. t. 11. per cubic foot, which is best produced by diluting gas obtained in the extraction of gas from anthracite coal with water gas. The water gas is then used as a so-called blue water gas, if only for the reason that the materials necessary for carburetion have risen very materially in pribe. In diluting the illuminating gas from coke ovens by such water gas, the idea has, of course, suggested itself, of using the gas resulting during the hot air blasting of the water gas generator in a profitable manner so as not to lose the sensible and latent heat contained therein. This idea has been found impracticable so far because these hot blasts gases were too poor and supplied too irregularly. In generating water gas, the original aim was to produce as far as possible only carbon dioxide gas in the hot air blasting stage and it was from this viewpoint that the water gas generators were built and operated. It is true, that the hot blast gases which resulted, were used to heat a carbureter and superheater for assisting the carbureting of the water gas; this use of the blast gases however, is now eliminated for the reasons mentioned above.

Some of the uses, other than for heating the carburetor and superheater of a water gas set, to which hot blast gases have been practically put heretofore in connection with water gas generators, was for operating gas engines, and the air blast period was extended with due consideration of the gas engines and the quality and quantity of the hot blast gas thus increased, while on the other hand the useful effect of the coke going into the gas generator for the manufacture of water gas was impaired. For heating illuminating gas ovens, that are not adapted for heating by means of gas producers built as a part of such ovens, the hot blast gas has not been used alone heretofore but only when mixed with a richer gas; neither was there any possibility of using it alone to heat such ovens, since the illuminating gas ovens are still heated to-day by gas producers using coke as a fuel self-contained therein in which the gas is employed with its full body heat. The illuminating gas ovens can use heat only above 1000 degrees centigrade so that in using the lean hot blast gas in the hitherto employed recuperative heating of illuminating gas ovens, the useful effect, with reference to the fuel, would be exceptionally slight.

Normally the water gas is made only from coke, i. e., of coke in large pieces and burnt hard. The hot blast gas' resulting in this connection is particularly poor on account of the low co'mbustibility of this grade of coke and in order to provide for air-blast gas rich enough for underfiring coke ovens it has been proposed to employ anthracite instead .of coke as the fuel for water gas generators.

In this connection the volatile ingredients of the anthracite are to be admixed to the hot blast gas in. order to thus create a more suitable gas for the purpose of heating the distilling ovens. The charge of a gas generator with anthracite in contradistinction to coke, however, has again a number of disadvantages asregards the water gas production proper so that there are practical obstacles in the way of this idea.

This invention solves the same problem by improving the heating effect of the hot blast gases in two places at the same time, i. e., first, at the place where these gases are generated and secondl at the place where they are used: first 0 all, according to the invention, the still comparatively low height, of the charge in the water gas generators is discarded or done away with and a. high charging column of the hei ht of 20 to 33 feet is used so that during t e air blasting assured. For that purpose the high charging column of course, must be operated on the one hand by means of an air blast subjected to suiiicient pressure, and this blast must also be introduced at a correspondingly high temperature of about 800 to 900 degrees centigrade in order to obtain the necessary temperature. This then, at the same time, results in dicharging the ashes in a liquid form, which has also been proposed for water gas generators.

This high charging column blown to 'in candescence with hot air represents at the same time a regenerator for the water gas stage, since here by introducing the steam in a counter current to the air, preheating of the steam is caused which is necessary for the most effective decomposition of the same into water gas. The hot blast gas obtained, which is rich in carbon monoxide, is then utilized for heating the illuminating gas plant in such a way that the air and gas or one of them is preheated as muchas is possible in a heat recovery plant, that is to say,

As has been learned one with regenerators. by heating such ovens with lean gas, such as blast furnace gas, it is possible to assure in this manner, that is, by preheating the lean gas by flowing it through regenerators, a heating which is suliiciently high and distinguished above everything else by its uniformity.

In addition, the hot blast gas can be used for heating blast heaters by which the low pressure air for the blasting of the water gas generator is preheated to a sutlicient degree. The production and leading off from the generator of the hotblast gas with little sensible heat has the additional advantage of making it possible to carry out its purification prior to use, which in actual practice can only be effected at a low temperature, without undue or excessive heat losses. By means of the extent of thepreheating it is also possible to regulate the quantity of the water gas generated.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing a plant corresponding with the invention is shown by a diagrammatic elevation partly in section, and in Fig. 2 is shown a vertical cross-sectional view thereof taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

The shaft 0: of the water gas generator proper is charged by means of the charging device]; with coke in pieces of from 3 to 4 inches average diameter, being kept filled up to a height of from 20 to 33 feet. The highly heated air blast fed through the ring conduit 0 is introduced above the hearth through the tuyeres d in order to effect a gradual heating of the coke column upward from below. The operation is so managed that the hot blast gases generated in this connection leave the gas generator through connection e at a temperature of about 250 degrees (1., that is to say, the hot blast is discontinued 'hen great losses of heat result at the top. During the manufacture of the water gas, with the connection a closed, steam is introduced at the top through the conduit f, being suitably preheated in the charging column, as it passes therethrough in a direction counter to that of the preeeding air hot blast, and is decomposed finally to form water gas. The time of the water gas period is determined in this connection by the carbon dioxide'gas content desired in the water gas.

The hot water gas at the. bottom of the shaft a is discharged through openings 9 into which the pipe nests 71 of sub-boilers are built in, which, through an intermediate ring system i, are connected to a common upper boiler 7a which is arranged so high that on the one hand the sub-boilers are always kept under water, while on the other hand however, it is possible to supply steam of sufiicient pressure, about one atmosphere above atmospheric, in order to make it possible to introduce the same under its own pressure directly in the shaft a by the con duit f as already described. In that mannor as complete a circulation and conservation of the heat as possible is then also insured in this respect. The partly cooled water gas passes through the ring system Z to the gas holder on in which theilluminat ing gas proper or coal gas produced in coal distilling chambers such as -nis added.

The hot air blast gas leaving the shaft a through the connection e is fed to the regenerative plant, 0, p, of the illuminating gas plant, operated reversibly in the well known manner, by whose aid the air and gas are so highly preheated prior to the combustion in the regenerators 17 and 27 respectively that even with the small heating value of the hot blast gases, which moreover are partly cooled, a sufficient heating of the distilling chambers is effected. The dilution peculiar to the hot blast gases in this connection, owing to their content of nitrogen and possibly carbon dioxide gas, has an advantageous effect in that an exceptionally uniform heating of the distilling chambers, especially if they are made as large dimension chamber ovens, can be brought about. The reason for this is that the titles 3 of the chamber ovens must be heated by flame heat, as distinguished from mere sensible heat of waste gas, throughout their entire height and the nitrogen and the carbon dioxide, being inert, retard combustion of the gases in the heating fiues 3 and thus cause lengthening of the flame in the fines 8 so that the walls of the flues 3 will be subjected to flame heating throughout the height of the lines 3, instead of being subjected to flame heating merely in their lower portions,

Another part of the hot air blast gas is branched off through the conduit it behind the purifying plant 9 and in front of the compensating gas holder r, and serves' for alternately heating the air blast heaters or stoves s and t which are alternately charged with air taken from the blower n, this air going back through the conduit w to the ring main 0 and thus to the tuyeres d. In this manner a suflicient preheating of the low pressure air can be obtained in order to bring the high charge of the shaft to the requisite temperature. If water gas of 315 B. t. 11. per cubic foot and coal gas of 506 B. t. u. per cubic foot are produced there is obtained, by mixing the gases to get an upper calorific value of 427 B. t. u. per cubic foot, a condition such that the hot blast gas from the enlarged water gas generator is just sufficient to adequately heat the distilling chambers and the air for the hot blast. i

If a very reduced amount of water gas is to be admixed to the coal gas, the gases produced during the hotairblasting of the water gas generator will not be sufficient in quantity in actual practice to carry out the heating. For supplementary purposes special additional gas producers can be put up in which inferior fuels are gasified; in addition, another method commends itself, however, by prolonging the hot air blast period of the operation of the water gasgenerator beyond the requisite measure for bringing its bed up to incandescence for decomposition of steam, it is of course possible to further produce air blast gas the same as in a normal gas producer in which case merqly the discharge temperature would rise. Now, so as'not to cause, owing to the sensible heat of this gas produced in excess, a loss in the closed heat cycle of the plant as a whole, it is advisable to-withdraw this part of the gases, by means of a reversing apparatus provided behind the steam boilers'h, i. e., situated in a cold place, not through the connections 0 but through the conduit Z whereby its sensible heat, at least for the greater part, is rendered useful for the evaporation of water. In this connection of course, a cold blast is used if only from air and coke is' Withdrawn at the bottom at 9.

What is claimed is- 1. Apparatus for increasing the heat efiiciency of a gas plant operating for the man.- ufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a .coal gas apparatus having a distilling chamber ada ted to be heated by combustion of gas in ame flues alongside said chamber and having regenerators below and parallel therewith for communication with such flame flues; a. water gas generator having means for supplying steam thereto for water gas generagas rectly combined with said water gas tion; blast heaters for preheating air for said water gas generator; means for supplying preheated air from said blast heaters to said water gas generator; said water gas generator being adapted to form a gas of low sensible heat and rich in carbon monoxide from said air before said gas leaves said generator; means for conducting such air;

blast gas to the regenerators and fines of said distillation chamber; whereby said water gas generator and the regenerators for the distilling chamber together treat the air-blast gas" from the water gas generator so that such gases may give 01f sufficiently intense heat to effect distillation within said distilling chamber without requiring mixture with a richer gas.

2. Apparatus for increasing the heat efficiency of a gas plant operating for manufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a coal gas apparatus having a distilling chamber adapted to be heated by combustion of gas in flame flues'alongside said chamber and having regenerators below and parallel therewith for communication with such flame flues; a water gas generator of relatively great height; means combined with the lower portion of said water gas generator for generating steam; means for conducting such steam to the upper end of said water gas generator; water gas ofl'ta-ke means for leading off the water gas generated through said means for generating steam; blast heaters connected with the lower art of said water gas generator for supplying preheated air blast thereto; air blast gas 'ofi'take means for conducting the air-blast gas from the upper end of said generator; means for conducting aportion of said air-blast gas to said blast heaters; and means for conducting a portion of said air-blast gas to the regener- .ators and flues of said distillation chamber;

whereby said water gas generator and the regenerators for the distilling chamber together treat the air-blast gas from the water gas generator so that such gases may give off sufiiciently intense heat to effect distillation within said distilling chamber without requiring mixture with a richer gas.

3. Apparatus for increasing the heat efiiciency of a gas plant operating for the manufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a coal gas ap paratus having distilling chambers ada ted to be heated by combustion of gas in ame flues alongside said chambers and regenerators for communication with such lines; a water gas generator having means for maintaining a high fuel bed therein; means d1- erator for generating steam by the heat of said water gas; water gas offtake means for drawing off water gas through said means for generating steam; means for supplying said steam from said steam generator means to said water gas generator; blast heaters connected with said water gas generator for supplying blasts of preheated air thereto; air-blast gas ofitake means for conducting the rich in monoxide air-blast gas from said water gas generator to the regenerators and fines of said distillation chambers; whereby said water gas generator and the generators for the distilling chambers together treat the air-blast gas from the water gas generator so that such gas may give off sufficiently intense heat to efi'ect distillation within said distilling chambers without requiring mixture with a richer gas.

4. Apparatus for increasing the heat efliciency of a gas plant operating for the manufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a water gas generator having means for maintaining a high fuel column; a coal gas apparatus adapted to be heated by combustion of gas in flame fiues alongside a distillation chamber and provided with regenerators for communicating with such flues; blast heaters connected with the bottom part of the water gas generator for supply of preheated air blast thereto; lower and upper boilers, said lower boiler being directly combined with the lower portion of said water gas generator; connections between said lower and said upper boilers for thermosyphonic circulation of hot water maintained under pressure in the lower boiler by counter-pressure of the head of water in said upper boiler; means for supplying steam to the upper part of the generator from said upper boiler; water gas ofitake connections for leading Water gas from said generator through said lower boiler to generate said steam; means for conducting air-blast gas from the Water gas generator to said airblast heaters; and means for conducting the air-blast gas from the water gas generator to the regenerators and flues of said distillation chamber; whereby said water gas generator and the regenerators for the illuminating gas generator together treat the airblast from the water gas generator so that such gases may give off sufiiciently intense heat to eflt'ect distillation within said illuminating gas regenerator Without mixture with a richer gas.

5. Apparatus for increasing the heat efliciency of a gas plant operating for manufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a coal gas apparatus havin a distilling chamber adapted to be heated by combustion of gas in flame flues alongside said chamber and having regcnerators for communication with such fiues; a water gas generator having means for supplying steam thereto for water gas generation; means for air-blasting said water gas generator; said water gas generator being adapted to form a gas of low sensible heat and rich in carbon monoxide from said air blast before said gas leaves said water gas generator; means for conducting such air-blast gas to the regenerators and fines of said distilling chamber; whereby said water gas generator and the regenerators for said distilling chamber together treat the air-blast gas from the water gas generator so that such gases may give oil sufliciently intense heat to effect the distillation within said distilling chamber without requiring mixture with a richer gas.

6. Apparatus for increasing the heat efficiency of a gas plant operating for the manufacture of mixed coal gas and water gas comprising, in combination: a coal gas apparatus having a distilling chamber adapted for heating by combustion of gas in flame fines alongside said chamber; regenerators therefor; a water gas generator adapted to form a gas of low sensible heat and rich in carbon monoxide from air blown through a fuel bed therein; means for injecting steam into water gas generator; means for combining gases distilled in said distilling chamber and water gas from said water gas generator; a pair of hot blast stoves connected with said water gas generator; means for conducting an air blast from one of said hot blast stoves to said water gas generator; means for conducting air blast gases from said water gas generator; a line connected with said means and in communication with the other of said hot blast stoves and with said regenerators, to conduct air-blast gas thereto, and with a line that is in communication with a gas holder for storage and withdrawal of surplus airblast gas, to maintain the supply of air blast gas under pressure to said regenerators and to said stoves constant.

HEINRICH KOPPERS. 

